On Nov. 4th at the Hawaii State House of Representatives
eminent bio-geneticist Dean Hamer (for 35 years, a researcher at the National
Institutes of Health) gave testimony in support of Hawaii's marriage equality
hearing.

It was perhaps the most compelling argument by a scientist
that gays are biologically motivated in their sexual orientation as
heterosexuals are. It is a "must see" that is making the rounds of
the internet - but slowly, discreetly, especially if you're laptop is monitored
by your right wing pastor.

"Russia's parliament invited an American anti-gay
psychologist whose work has been widely discredited to give expert testimony
where he suggested that a third of LGBTs support pedophilia, according to a
participant in the meeting."

"Family Research Institute founder Paul Cameron, who
has been censured by the American Psychological Association and the American
Sociological Association for distorting statistics in efforts to block LGBT
rights, spoke at a Duma roundtable on "family values," according to
tweets from lawmaker Alexander Sidyakin."

Why?

In America we have many freedoms, but one freedom is still
developing: freedom from right-wing religion and its wingnuts. Russia,
sadly, does not have that freedom. Russia is held in a stranglehold by a
Christian religious power not seen since Constantine made Christianity Rome's
"official" religion.* It is certainly more powerful than the Anglican
Church during America's colonial period. It is even more powerful than the
revivalist religion of the antebellum South.

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"Which president is
the lion of Christianity, the defender of Christian values, the president that's
calling his nation back to embracing its identity as a nation founded on
Christian values?" [Bryan] Fischer asked. "Those, ladies and gentlemen, are
quotes from Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia."

It is a power-hold today's Southern Baptists
certainly envy:

But for the Christian
Right, the possibility that Russia is embracing America's hate groups,
homophobes and scientific frauds to legitimize its own intolerance does not
enter into the picture: eager to proselytize and convey the evils of its chief
candidate for hell, the Christian Right's leaders (e.g. Bryan Fischer and Tony
Perkins of the Family Research Council) don't question Russian motives.
Anti-gay Russian sentiment is a gift horse.

Back To Hawaii

After 5 grueling days
of testimony, the Hawaii House judiciary and finance committees will likely
broaden the religious exemptions of the controversial bill. That, however, is
not what Christian Right opponents wanted, and they are is angered by the possibility
of the bill's passage. Last ditch efforts (like the testimony of one police
chief who vowed never to enforce the law) were muddled by the sheer volume of
"testimonies" (over 1000!) and Dr. Dean Hamer's was perhaps the only
clear-cut and authoritative voice heard. Moreover, same-sex marriage was not on
trial - homosexuality was, and the debate degenerated into a boring hodgepodge
that made Hawaii's state congress look ridiculous in its confusion.

Rev. Dan Vojir is has been writing/blogging on religion and politics for the better part of ten years. A former radio talk show host (Strictly Books €" Talk America Radio Network) and book publisher, Dan has connected with some of the most (more...)